Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Dogfish Head: Aprihop
Monday, April 26, 2010
Pick Axe Pale Ale, Tommyknocker Brewery, Idaho Springs, Co.
I have had a pretty good few weeks in the free beer department; it's almost as if Karma is helping me out after dumping all that cash on the Utopias. My amigo Downtown, gifted me some Tommyknocker Pick Axe Pale Ale and I feel quite indebted to him. It's been awhile since I've enjoyed a good American Pale and I was definitely looking forward to putting this one into a tall glass. The Pick Axe poured a nice orange brown color with modest head. The beer led off with a bitter hop first impression, melding into a caramel apple malt hop combination. Finishing with a crisp tasting, solid even bitterness. The Tommyknocker is a great example of how American Pale Ales should be constructed. The 6.2% ABV only solidifies this beer’s standing. Now only if I can get Downtown to gift me a few more! The Pick Axe Pale Ale gets a 4.0
Friday, April 23, 2010
Copper Hook Spring Ale, Redhook Brewery, Portsmouth, NH
Based on past experience, I usually avoid Redhook Brewery products, as I find myself disliking them. But a good copper ale is one of my favorite things, and I decided to give the Redhook Copper Hook a try. My mistake...
The color is a very nice copper/amber, but the aroma and taste are awash with caramel maltiness, almost like they tried to make a beer to replicate a Sugar Daddy. There is a touch of hop bitterness to combat the sweet caramel flavor, but not nearly enough. The caramel hit is especially jarring in the first sip, but that might be expectation vs. reality.
The beer is easy to drink, if you can stomach the sweetness, with an ABV of 5.8%.
I'm curious to see if the west coast version of this beer (which is served year-round) is different than the east coast version (which is a spring seasonal). For the record, I'm drinking the east coast seasonal version.
Rating = 1.5
I guess this one reaffirms my personal feelings on Redhook...
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Purple Haze: Abita Brew
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Orange Blossom Original Ale, Buckbean Brewing Co., Reno, Nevada
With the temperatures in the sixties and the cherry blossoms in full bloom in DC, I decided to crack a brew on my porch and enjoy a lazy Sunday evening. Looking for something light, I picked out the Buckbean Brewing Orange Blossom Original Ale, breaking my unwritten rule of reviewing the same brewer twice in a row.
Cracking open the can, I was overwhelmed with the scent of oranges. I poured the orange brown elixir into my stein and went to work, that's if you consider sipping beers in wicker chairs working. And work it was, the orange blossom water dominated this beer, and my palette could not stand up to the onslaught of orange.
I had hoped the beer would resemble a light summery ale, instead I got something that resembles one of those Belgians I have a hard time with. Perhaps the hefeweizen and Belgian lovers would find this style more appealing, however I did not. It is very rare that I can't finish a beer, and this I couldn't make it more than halfway through.
The Orange Blossom Original Ale has a 5.2% ABV, and it receives the lowest rating I've given in a long time, 0.5.
I have another Buckbean Brewing beer in my fridge. I hope it resembles the Black Noddy Lager more than the Orange Blossom.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Island Creek Oyster Stout, Harpoon Brewery, Boston, MA
Remember a few weeks ago when I said that the Harpoon 100 Barrel Series beers were generally very good? I found an exception: Island Creek Oyster Stout.
Like most stouts, this one is dark brown/black with a thin tan head. There is a striking aroma of the ocean - primarily driven by the smell of salt water. This aroma sensation carries over into the taste, as the first thing you taste is tinged with salt. Happily, the salty flavor is quickly washed away by the taste of a half-decent stout, followed by a lightly hopped aftertaste. There is some unpleasant metallic flavor as well, unfortunately.
Comparing this oyster stout to the recently reviewed Flying Fish offering, I definitely give the nod to Flying Fish. I don't know if their oysters are better or not, but their beer definitely is.
Rating = 2.0
Interesting, but unspectacular...